Effects of woodland management history and leaf litter characteristics on the diversity and composition of terrestrial Isopod

Terrestrial Isopod diversity and composition were investigated at 30 one-hectare sites from forest preserves in four counties across the Chicago metropolitan area.  The sites, which are part of the Chicago Wilderness Land Management Research Program, range in management history from degraded (not managed), early management (0-5 years from the start of management) mature management (10+ years of active management) and restoration goal. Sites were sampled in late spring and in late summer for two years. Six 0.05-m2 litter grabs where taken at each 1-ha site and isopods were extracted by Berlese funnels technique over a four day period. Dried litter was divided into leaf litter and woody debris and weighed.  A total of 2,273 isopod where identified, sex and measured. Several statistical approaches, including multivariate techniques, were used to relate Isopod diversity and composition to a range of environmental variables related to management history that vary across the sites. The knowledge gained through this study, by informing land managers of the impact of land management history.